When people exchanged some items for other ones the first time, trade had come into this world. As the relationship between the one who is in need of a certain thing and the one who can provide the required item proved quite profitable for the latter, people established particular professions like farmers, carpenters, fishermen, miners, etc. in order to be able to trade on a regular basis. An example of a series of connected professions might be a farmer, who specialized in growing wheat and giving it to a mill in return for money or, of course, flour. The miller could then sell the flour to a bakery where bread was baked and sold again. Regarding all the different trades it was nearly always the selling person who set the conditions as he could take advantage of the other one’s desire or need for the respective goods. Within the 11th and 12th century people in England began to gather in cooperative unions. The guilds, as they were called, always consisted of members of one special profession. They had several aims such as promoting the welfare of their members, preserving the craft tradition, holding a local monopoly and maintaining the standards of work and the level of wages and prices. The guilds were mostly only interested in trading within their direct vicinity in keeping with their traditions which left no room for changes, neither in the use of certain tools or the way of proceeding nor in the way apprentices were instructed.
Throughout the centuries the people dealt with several goods within villages and furthermore within counties and boroughs, and also beyond that: with other countries. England exported goods to the “continent” and imported other items which also came from manufacturers that belonged to guilds in e.g. France or today’s Germany. Different conditions in the country and law enforcement by the government influenced the trades again and again. Especially the Statute of Artificers, introduced during the reign of queen Elisabeth I, had a tremendous impact on the trades and on apprenticeship. There were several changes regarding the ways of producing goods as well as trading in them.
This paper wants to give a description of the changes in medieval England concerning the changes in the national economy. Special emphasis is put on the Statute of Artificers and on one of its so-called precursors: the Acte touching weavers.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Historical Background
- 3. The Trades
- 3.1 An Acte touching weavers
- 3.2 The Statute of Artificers
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to describe the changes in the medieval English economy, focusing on the Statute of Artificers and its precursor, the Acte touching weavers. It examines the impact of these statutes on trades and apprenticeships within the context of broader economic and social shifts.
- The evolution of trade and guilds in medieval England.
- The impact of the Reformation on the English economy.
- The role of the Statute of Artificers in regulating trades and apprenticeships.
- The significance of the Acte touching weavers as a precursor to the Statute of Artificers.
- The economic and social context of 16th-century England.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter provides a broad overview of the history of trade in England, tracing its development from early exchanges to the emergence of guilds in the 11th and 12th centuries. It highlights the role of guilds in regulating trades, maintaining standards, and controlling prices within their local areas. The chapter sets the stage for a discussion of the significant changes that occurred in the English economy during the 16th century, particularly concerning the impact of legislation on the trades and apprenticeships. The introduction foreshadows the central focus of the paper: the analysis of the Acte touching weavers and the Statute of Artificers, and their lasting impact on the organization and practice of various trades in England.
2. The Historical Background: This chapter provides crucial background information by examining the reign of Henry VIII and its impact on the English economy. It details Henry VIII's break with Rome, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the subsequent redistribution of monastic lands. The chapter connects these events to changes in agricultural wages and land ownership, highlighting the economic upheaval of the era. The discussion of Henry VIII’s actions provides essential context for understanding the socio-economic landscape that shaped the subsequent legislation impacting the trades, creating a clear link between the religious and political changes under Henry VIII and the later economic policies affecting trade and labor.
3. The Trades: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of two key pieces of legislation: the Acte touching weavers and the Statute of Artificers. It explores the specific provisions of each act, examining their aims, consequences, and effects on various trades and apprenticeships. By examining these acts, the chapter sheds light on the government’s efforts to regulate economic activity, manage labor, and control the quality of goods produced. The chapter analyzes the direct impact of these acts on the organization of trade and the conditions of both workers and consumers within the broader historical context of 16th-century England. The detailed analysis of these two pieces of legislation forms the core argument of the paper.
Keywords
Medieval English economy, guilds, Statute of Artificers, Acte touching weavers, trade regulation, apprenticeships, Reformation, Henry VIII, 16th-century England, economic change, social impact.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes the changes in the medieval English economy, specifically focusing on the impact of the Statute of Artificers and its precursor, the Acte touching weavers, on trades and apprenticeships. It examines these statutes within the broader context of economic and social shifts in 16th-century England.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the evolution of trade and guilds, the impact of the Reformation on the English economy, the role of the Statute of Artificers in regulating trades and apprenticeships, the significance of the Acte touching weavers, and the economic and social context of 16th-century England.
What historical background is provided?
The paper provides crucial background information on the reign of Henry VIII, including his break with Rome, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the subsequent redistribution of monastic lands. It connects these events to changes in agricultural wages and land ownership, highlighting the economic upheaval of the era and its connection to later economic policies.
What legislation is analyzed in detail?
The paper deeply analyzes the Acte touching weavers and the Statute of Artificers. It explores the specific provisions of each act, examining their aims, consequences, and effects on various trades and apprenticeships, and their impact on the organization of trade and the conditions of workers and consumers.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction providing a broad overview of trade in England, a chapter on the historical background (focusing on Henry VIII's reign), a chapter detailing the Acte touching weavers and the Statute of Artificers, and a concluding chapter. It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the significance of the Acte touching weavers?
The Acte touching weavers is presented as a precursor to the Statute of Artificers, providing important context for understanding the later legislation and its impact on the regulation of trades.
What is the role of guilds in the paper?
The paper discusses the role of guilds in regulating trades, maintaining standards, and controlling prices in medieval England, highlighting their importance before and after the implementation of the analyzed statutes.
What keywords describe the paper's content?
Keywords include: Medieval English economy, guilds, Statute of Artificers, Acte touching weavers, trade regulation, apprenticeships, Reformation, Henry VIII, 16th-century England, economic change, social impact.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Matthias Gebhardt (Autor:in), 2004, The History of Trading, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/66290
